Coal Creek NewsFebruary 2010

Coal Creek News 1

Coal Creek Elementary801 W. Tamarisk Street

Louisville, CO 80027Phone

720.561.4500Attendance Line

720.561.4502Fax

720.561.4501Website

http://bvsd.org/schools/coalcreek

Dear Coal Creek Families:

The state’s fiscal crisis is finally hitting our schools in BVSD. The information published in the media since last fall all speak to a financial crunch that is going to impact public schools not only in our district, but throughout the state. Take the following headlines as an example:

•“Budget Cuts to be Central Focus when Colorado Legislative Session Opens” – (Denver Post, January 10, 2010)•“Tense Session Ahead” – The Governor and lawmakers must deal with a budget shortfall of more than $1 billion in the 2010-11 fiscal year… (Denver Post, January 12, 2010).•“Boulder Valley Schools Brace for Deep Cuts” - (Daily Camera, November 11, 2009).•“St. Vrain Valley School District: Cuts Mean Layoffs” – At one point, CFO Terry Schueler, of the SVVSD stated the following: “Our goal at this point is, I hate to say it, sink slower than other districts.” (Longmont Times-Call, November, 2009).

In this issue of our school newsletter, I have included an important message from Superintendent Chris King. His tag line reads, “A Statewide Fiscal Crisis is Hitting All 178 School Districts Throughout Colorado.” It is important for parents to understand that this situation is not something that is only happening at Coal Creek, or just within Louisville, nor is limited to BVSD. In fact, the state’s money woes will have an impact on a wide variety of public service resources in Colorado.

It is also important for parents to realize that the information we receive in the District, and that I receive as the administrator for our school, constantly changes. Projections shared with us from last month and even last week have changed from what I presently know. And about the only thing we know for sure is that the economic landscape will continue to change during the legislative session ahead. Therefore, I would be wary of individuals who share with you that they “heard” classes will be at certain sizes next year, or that such and such is for sure going to be eliminated.

I realistically cannot make accurate projections associated with class size, program offerings, personnel changes, or our actual budget until late spring; certainly NOT before then. I will also be working in conjunction with the faculty and our PTA/School Accountability Team to gain additional insight and input as it pertains to financial reductions in our school. Both of these groups have already been apprised of the financial situation in the District and I am confident that we will work together to ensure a continued high quality educational program for our students.

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Calendar

February 8 - 11

Book Fair

February 8, 9 & 10

Conferences

February 12

Valentine’s Parties

February 15

President’s Day – No School

February 16

CSAP – Grade 3 Reading #1

February 17

CSAP – Grade 3 Reading #2

February 25

End of Trimester

February 26

Professional Day – No School

(continued from previous page)In the weeks and months ahead, I ask for your patience and understanding. I’ve personally lived

through a situation much worse than our current reality during my tenure as a principal in Oregon many years ago. In that case, we were required to shave almost $60 million dollars from our school district over a relatively brief period of time! Though certainly stressful, I can assure you that our schools survived, the children thrived – minus a few “bells and whistles” from the school – and we came through those rough waters all the stronger. I know that the same will be true for us at this current time.

I encourage parents to become as knowledgeable as possible about fiscal matters in our state and the things you can do to make your voice heard. Do your research from many perspectives, and try to attend one of the several community information meetings that will be presented by our leadership in the District in the near future.

Best,

John Kiemele, Ed.D., Principal

Cell Phone Policy at Coal Creek

With the holiday season behind us, I realize that some children may have received cell phones as a wonderful gift.  Therefore, this is an opportunity to clarify the school’s policy in regards to students and cell phone use on campus. 

In short, Coal Creek School is a “Cell Phone Free Zone” during regular school hours.  In addition to being an interruption to the learning process, our experience has shown that such devices have a high chance of being lost, damaged, or stolen if brought to school; for those two reasons, parents are strongly discouraged from allowing your child to come to campus with a cell phone.

Parents are reminded that if the need arises for you to communicate with your child during the school day, please contact the office at our main number:  720-561-4500.  Messages are usually routed to your child’s teacher in the classroom within a few moments of our reception of the phone call.  We also encourage parents to clarify after school plans and activities with their child(ren) PRIOR to coming to school; if plans do change, please contact our office so that we can relay that information. 

This practice is aligned to those of multiple schools in the District; though I realize that at the secondary level, teens may be allowed to use phones during passing periods and/or during their lunch at some schools, I do not feel this is an appropriate practice for our youngsters at the elementary level, and we believe it would cause more problems than be of benefit to the children.

If parents allow their child to come to school with their cell phone and it is seen in use, it will be confiscated by a staff member and parents will need to make arrangements to come to campus to secure the item.  Should you feel it is necessary to send the phone with your child in order to reach him/her off campus after school hours, please make sure your child understands that the phone needs to be kept in his/her backpack and turned off.

Please note that cell phones ARE NOT allowed in classrooms during the CSAP testing period. They should be left at home during this time.

Thank you for your understanding; please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

John Kiemele, Principal

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Science Fair

Student ParticipantsKate Wood Alena Wohl Natalie Wilcox Owen White Max White Kristen White Sydney Wheeler Walter Wesseling Jack Vincent Sara Victor Max Vali Muhammed Tigrek Connor Thomas Marcos Sullivan Sabrina SternEmma Stern Markisha Stephens Caleb Smith Dylan Sheets Brendan SheetsJackson Scolnick Mollie Schnee Jared Schnee Amelia Schantz Sean ScanlonAnnika Rothacker Edden Rosenberg McKenzie Ronacher Grace Reppy Elizabeth ReppyCarson Renjilian Mason Rein Sebastian Reid Maggie Pieper Nicolas PedersenIan Nelson Sebastian Myers Hayley Morgan Emily Moore Ryan MillerRiley Miller Ian Miller Colin Miller Quinton McNamara Nikita MarlinLuis Lopez Isabella Lincoln Fiona Lighthiser Carmen LighthiserKyle Leonesio Claire Laurie Jack Langhart Alana Kihn Caitlin KessnerRenee Kendrick Grace Kelly Nicholas Kauza Katherine Kauza Kade JonesBrooke Jones Rachael Jacobs Emily Jacobs Sophie Hughes Lindsey HughesCaleb Huber Jake Hofgard Elyssa Hofgard Jeffrey Hersey Erin HerseyEthan Hein Abigail Hein Carolyn Hayes Cooper Hanley Caroline HagelinBrooke Hagelin Benjamin Gygi Anna Gygi Jack Gleason Celeste GibsonJustin Gheleta Amelia Geiszler Caroline Frenzel Sarah Fitzpatrick Tanner FilionBenjamin Fantalis Cyrus Evans Avery Evans Anthony Dolan Zakhar DmitriyevWilliam Dienstfrey Benjamin Dienstfrey Conor Devery John Denton Ayla DanabasogluBreccan Corzine Mia Coronelli Holden Coronelli Jeffrey Collins David CelanoAnna Cassady Juliette Carney Samuel Carner Chloe Carlstrom John CarlsonMila Bush Karen Buri Jake Brown Kira Biener Acadia BienerGillian Beauchamp Emily Baxter Weston Barnhill Jaycie Baca Grace ArnsbergerJordan Arato Katharine MacDonald

Thanks to the following:Sam Barnhill Diana Baumgartner Rolf Baumgartner Ellen Berns Randy CummingsLaura Denton Ashley Devery Mike Devery Michael Dolan Candice EvansKelly Fitzpatrick Joanne Forth Meghan Frenzel Bridget Gibson Bud HarrisKurt Hofgard Christian Huber Meg Hummel John Joy Laura Stanko Joy Brent Kendrick Michelle Kovalski Rebecca Lasica Weimei Luo Alicia MillerScott Mitchell Erika Morreale Suzan Myers Wendy Pearson Pauline CroogErika Penz Brian Reid Duane Rosenberg Mike Schantz Irv SternBecky Swanstrom David Thul Rita Vali Emily Wesseling David WoodLana Anderson Penczek Mrs. Baumgartner’s classroom refreshment volunteers The Coal Creek PTA

Parent Snapshot Survey

In February – Planning and Assessment deploys online Parent Snapshot Survey to all households with email addresses (one household per school).We encourage parents to complete the Parent Snapshot Survey and to be aware of the new online survey process.

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Rock Stars February

Grade Teacher Student 1 Student 2       

KAM Buffer Evan Toth Benji Dienstfrey

KAM Thomas Savannah Jordaan Everett Bryant

KPM Buffer Anders Wiener Maggie Hefflon

1 Gamblin Luc Filion Lindsay Underwood

1 Marshall Tanner Gehr Haley Welch

1 Rachubinski Jack Lee Rose Rampy

1 Swanstrom Sammy Mosier Jimmy Pieper

2 Adams Ellia Osofsky Max White

2 Hibl Francesca Macri Leo Nelson

2 Walden Brooke Hagelin Will Chadwick

2 Wilson Sarah Fitzpatrick Ethan TenWolde

3 Baumgartner Natalie Wilcox Jacob Meska

3 Berns Nick Anastasi Ashley Plumley

3 Forth Aidan Rampy Alyssa Montoya

4 Arnold Justin Harvey Amanda Matteson

4 Hall John Moreale Val Jonas

4 McCarthy Lauren Mehrhoff Cyrus Evans

5 Harris Joe Peoria Emma Hundsdorfer

5 Morreale Shae Porter Mack Welch

5 Myers Melissa Gordon Jake Brown

Coal Creek News 4BVSD Superintendent’s Office Releases Initial Schedule of 10 Community Budget

Forums for February and March-Wednesday, February 10 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM –

Music Programs

5th Grade:

Coal Creek News 5

BVSD Superintendent’s Office Releases Initial Schedule of 10 Community Budget

Forums for February and March-Wednesday, February 10 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM –

Lost & FoundLost & Found items not claimed by March 19th, will be donated to local charity during the week of spring break.

Spelling BeeCongratulations to:

1 st Place: Elyssa Hofgard

2 nd Place: Aki Grill

3 rd Place: Jake Hofgard

National Geographic BeeCongratulations to Joe Peoria, the winner of the Coal Creek National Geographic Bee, which was held on January 8.  The question that won the Bee for him was: Question: Which Mediterranean country, located at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula, is Europe’s largest exporter of cotton? Answer: Greece Congratulations also to the second place finisher Jake Brown, and to Cyrus Evans, John Morreale, and Sabrina Stern, who tied for third place.

Music Programs

5th Grade:

Help to HaitiStudent Council would like to thank you for your generous donations last week! The official GRAND TOTAL was $2,256.55!

Easy Fundraising Opportunities!We have many easy fundraising opportunities that are ongoing for the rest of the school year. Money raised goes to the PTA to continue to support our school.

This month we will be focusing on our twice yearly collection of Box Tops For Education. We are getting ready to submit our spring collection and if we work together we can DOUBLE what we made last year in this easy fundraiser!

Simply cut the Box Tops square from 100's of grocery store products, be sure to leave the expiration date on, and submit to the school. Turn in your Box Tops to your child's classroom by Friday, February, 19th. The class that brings in the most Box Tops will win a Pizza Party! For a list of products go to www.boxtops4education.com. There are also two promotions going on right now that give our school bonus Box Tops.

Register at www.boxtops4education.com/love. The school receives bonus Box Tops when you sign up and for the month of February you can enter daily in a sweepstakes for Coal Creek to have the chance to win 1,000 bonus Box Tops.

Register at www.rewardyourschool.com. The school receives 5 bonus Box Tops when you register your King Sooper shopping card number and receives additional bonus Box Tops when you make purchases during February and March. Additional information can be found at the registration website.

As always, you can turn in the following items to your child's classroom. Our school receives money and/or supplies for each of these items that we submit.

Cell phones of any kind and condition Campbell's Soup labels Printer cartridges of any kind

PTA NewsIt was great to see so many Coal Creek families at our Dickey’s Dinner Night. The children got to hang out and eat with friends, parents didn’t have to cook dinner, we supported a local business and we raised about $100.00. Thank you to all that attended!!

We are having another dinner fundraiser at Beef O’Brady’s on Wednesday, February 10th from 4-9pm. Just mention that you are a member of the Coal Creek community and a percentage of all sales will be donated to Coal Creek Elementary. Tell your neighbors, family and friends to join you and mention Coal Creek!

We formed a budget committee at the last PTA meeting – members include Lisa Beauchamp, Tricia Slovacek, Nicolle Stutte, Robin Marshall, Valerie Weber and Janet Munson. They will help make decisions for the 201-2011 PTA budget. Please join us at our next PTA meeting and let us know how you’d like to see the PTA budget spent -field trips, assemblies, para-educators, supplies, etc… Your feedback is key to making sure that we do what’s best for the children at Coal Creek. The budget committee will approve the budget by May 2010. We have delayed the deadline from March to May to make considerations for the upcoming BVSD budget decisions by Chris King and the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). BVSD is faced with the daunting task of cutting anywhere from $12 million to $25million from the 10/11 budget. Please take a moment to call, email or write your local senator and representative and let them know you don’t want to see education cuts run deep.

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Coal Creek News 6

Michael Bennet at http://bennet.senate.gov Denver Metro Office 2300 15th St., Suite 450, Denver, Colorado 80202 - Phone: (303) 455-7600 Toll Free: (866) 455-9866

Mark Udall at http://markudall.senate.gov Denver Office 999 Eighteenth Street North Tower, Suite 1525Denver, CO 80202P: 303-650-7820Jared Polis at http://polis.house.gov 501 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 - 202.225.2161

In the upcoming months the PTA board will be looking for a new Vice President. Anyone interested in being a part of the PTA board or part of the nominating committee please email Valerie Weber at weber662@gmail.com.

We had a concerned parent at our meeting hoping to pass along the message to mind the speed limits on all streets and DO NOT TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE while driving along residential streets. Do not TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE while driving down Tamarisk to drop off or pick up your child. You are 4 times as likely to get into an accident while talking on a cell phone, and driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent  (Carnegie Mellon). Please help us protect our children’s safety!

Mark your calendars for these great upcoming events:

Book Fair – February 8-10 Spring Fling – March 13thMovie Night – April 16th

Please join us at our next PTA meeting on Tuesday, March 2nd from 6:30 - 8 pm.

The Presidential Fitness Club: A Healthy Change!

Before the winter break two focus group discussions took place regarding the Physical Education program at Coal Creek. A group of parents, staff members, and the principal came together to discuss where the program has been and where it can go in the future. These sessions were a great way for the parents and staff members to have a voice about what their hopes and dreams would be for the PE program, and the discussions gave me a platform to share my vision and philosophy as well.

Through this process, one theme was the most prominent: the issue of fitness testing. In the past, fitness testing was done though the Presidential Fitness Challenge Test. This test has been around for many years, but over time has become seen as less appropriate for Physical Education at the elementary level. This is a skills- based test which rewards less than 20% of the students, leaving 80% or more, unsuccessful. In an attempt to move in the direction of a more appropriate practice for all students, the fitness testing will be done through an individual goal oriented testing called the Fitness Gram.

I understand that the Presidential Fitness Challenge is a great accomplishment for the few that can achieve it, and commend those that attempt it. Therefore, in the spring Coal Creek will start its first Presidential Fitness Club. This will be a before and after school activity for those 3rd – 5th graders who choose to work for this achievement.

It is considered a developmentally inappropriate practice for K-2nd graders to be fitness tested. Therefore, the PFC will not be available for them; rather, it will be something for them to look forward to pursuing in the intermediate grades.

I understand that this is a big change for Coal Creek, but I believe it to be necessary to ensure best practices in the Physical Education program. Please feel free to contact me directly at travis.maron@bvsd.org if you would like further clarification.

Mr. Maron, PE Teacher

Coal Creek News 7

A Statewide Fiscal Crisis is Hitting all 178 School Districts throughout Colorado

Large budget cuts must be made by every school and department in Boulder Valley School District

According to state elected leaders and the media, Colorado state government is now in the second year of its worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression. Until now, BVSD has generally been able to shield the schools from budget cuts, but the news from the Capitol has gotten worse in the last few weeks. The reductions in state funding for BVSD are now much too large to be managed without significant cuts to school budgets.

BVSD Superintendent Chris King and district budget and finance staff began meeting with all 54 BVSD principals, assistant principals, and department directors in January to talk about how to manage this budget crisis. Because BVSD cannot be certain that the cuts for 2010-2011 will not go even deeper, this group was presented preliminary plans for 1) a best case scenario ($12 million in BVSD cuts), 2) a middle case scenario ($18 million in BVSD cuts) or 3) a worst case scenario ($25 million in BVSD cuts).  For schools, the amounts needed to be cut to meet each of these three targets are 2.25 percent, 5.25 percent, or 8.25 percent. Each department in BVSD’s central administration will make cuts of 7.5 percent, 13.50 percent or 19.75 percent, depending on how large the final funding cuts end up being from the state. 

Difficult decisions will need to be made during the next couple of months. The superintendent will be scheduling more superintendent/community budget meetings than ever before. The meeting schedule will be sent to all BVSD parents as soon as it is finalized. It will include daytime and evening meetings.

“These budget decisions will be reached through a process of collaboration,” Superintendent Chris King reported to the Boulder Valley Board of Education during its Jan. 12 meeting. “This will not necessarily be a process of consensus, but it will very much be a process of input collection and analysis.”

Cuts this deep cannot help but affect almost everyone in the district, including students, but we are committed to maintaining the excellent and equitable educational experience that BVSD is known for, no matter what.

CSAP Testing ScheduleDate Grade Subject

2/16/2010 & 2/17/2010 3 Reading

3/1/2010 3 & 5 Math

3/2/2010 3 & 5 Math

4 Reading/Writing

3/3/2010 4 Reading/Writing

  5 Math

3/4/2010 & 3/5/2010 4 & 5 Reading/Writing

3/8/2010 & 3/9/2010 4 & 5 Reading/Writing

3/10/2010 & 3/11/2010 4 Math

  5 Reading/Writing

3/12/2010 4 Math

  5 Science

3/15/2010 & 3/16/2010 3 Writing

  5 Science 

Parents and Community Members,

Coal Creek News 8

During the January 26, 2010 BVSD school board meeting, board members discussed a proposal to change the 2010-2011 BVSD school calendar. This change would impact elementary schools. The school board decided to place this change on their February 9 school board meeting agenda for final action.The Proposed Change:

The proposal would move the elementary assessment days from August to September 16 and 17, with September 20 being a professional development day. Elementary teachers will work collaboratively to review the data and restructure instructional programming for each student as needed. Therefore, elementary school students in grades 1-5 would begin school on Tuesday, August 17. Kindergarten students would be assessed on Tuesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 18 and start school on Thursday August 19 and Friday August 20.

o Please note: Secondary level students (grades 6-12) will attend school on

September 16 and 20. Secondary students will not have school on September 17, as that will be a professional development day for secondary level teachers.

Teachers will use professional development time in August before the start of the school year to review assessment results from the previous spring. They will use that data to organize for instruction at the start of the year and use informal assessments to make adjustments as needed, then conduct formal diagnostic assessments in September.

Rationale for the Change: The Colorado Basic Literacy Act requirements have changed. Teachers now need to

administer The Developmental Reading Assessment, Second Edition (DRA2) to K-3 students and to 4th and 5th grade students who are at risk of reading failure.  

The DRA2 provides teachers with very specific data to determine objectives for instruction, yet takes more time to administer and evaluate the results than previously used assessments.

The authors of the DRA2 recommend waiting until students are back into the routine of school to acquire more accurate results.

If you would like to share your thoughts regarding this proposed calendar change, please contact the school board ( bvs.board@bvsd.org ) , the elementary level assistant superintendents, Sandy Ripplinger (sandy.ripplinger@bvsd.org or 720-561-5086) and Von Sheppard (von.sheppard@bvsd.org or 720-561-5086) or the Director of Literacy, Angel Stobaugh (angel.stobaugh@bvsd.org or 720-561-5040).

Coal Creek News 9

Feb. 8 & 11 8 am – 4 pm

Feb. 9 & 10 8 am – 7 pm

Highlights of the Book Fair Diner:

Open during conferences!

WISH LISTS: Classes visit the Fair on Feb. 8th or 9th, for preview and wish lists.Teachers will also create classroom wish lists,.

FAMILY Monday, Feb. 8, 4 – 7 Cooking with Chef DaveEVENTS: Coal Creek Dad, David Lilja (who has just published his new cookbook, Mr. Mom’s Favorite

Family Recipes) will be hosting a cooking demonstration on Valentine-themed sandwiches and snacks!(Cookbooks, $12.95, will be available for purchase).

Donuts at the Diner – Tues./Wed., Feb. 9 & 10 5 – 7 pmStop by and get your complimentary donut…..while supplies last.

GIVING: “Fill Our Plates” - benefiting Community Food Share, We will be collecting money and food for CFS, which provides food for many area

food banks.Drop off cash and coin in designated “Tip Jars” throughout the fair.Drop off boxes or cans of food in the “Tip Buckets” outside the fair.Each donation enters you in a raffle for food prizes from local merchants.

WHAT WOULD Our goal is to sell at least 1500 books throughout the four days of our fair.YOU DO Staff members have pledged “wacky” stunts, along the way if we reach our mini-goals.FOR READING

CONTESTS: Poster Hunt – win a free posterLunch Counter Lingo – win a book sandwichGuess How Many Gumballs – win the gumball machine (and its contents)

Guess How Many Straws – win the straw holder, straws and Twizzlers

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